Chapter 469: Chapter 460: I Am the Vicious Eldest Sister-in-Law 47
Anning waved over a child around ten years old: "Shuanzi, go and call Doctor Gu from our village. No matter what, Mrs. Feng has stayed with the Xu family for so many years. Even if her natal family can disregard her safety, we of the Xu family canât be so heartless and immoral. Not to mention Mrs. Feng, even if a stranger fell down, we would have to lend a helping hand upon seeing them."
The child agreed and ran off.
Anning smiled and looked at the villagers gathered around: "Everyone please be witnesses, weâll clarify everything that has happened here and now."
The crowd nodded: "Indeed, it should be made clear."
Anning smiled and said: "When Mrs. Feng returned from her natal home yesterday, she was full of life, wasnât she?"
Someone who saw Mrs. Feng yesterday immediately said: "Thatâs right, she was fine when I talked to her yesterday."
Anning nodded: "Yesterday evening, Mrs. Feng was still causing a fuss at home with a knife, and she even attacked my second brother. You all saw this, right?"
A few who lived close to Xu Zhiyongâs home quickly said: "Yes, many people saw it."
Anning pointed at Mrs. Feng: "Before she was sent away yesterday, she could cry and make a scene, stronger than most people. How did she become like this after one night without being seen?"
Her question caused the Fengs to start panicking.
Anning furrowed her brows: "I suspect the Fengs plotted for wealth and plotted to kill, wanting to harm Mrs. Feng and then frame the Xu family for it, in order to extort money from us."
"Isnât that the case?"
A Madam Li clapped her hands and shouted loudly.
"Last evening, half the village could hear Mrs. Fengâs screams, how could such a sturdy person become unconscious just by going back to her natal home overnight? It must have been her natal family who harmed her, donât you think this is too sinister? They even had the heart to lay hands on their own daughter."
Anning bowed her hands towards the people around: "Our Xu family will not bear this blame for harming others, nor will we let others accuse us of abusing our daughter-in-law. After all, we still have four boys in our family. If such a reputation spread, how will our four boys find wives in the future?"
The crowd thought about it, and it really was true.
If it got out that the Xu family abused their daughter-in-law to death, the next generation would indeed struggle to find wives.
Thinking like this, everyone grew even more resentful towards the Fengs.
Because if such a reputation spread, not only would the Xu family be implicated, but even those of the same clan could suffer inexplicable disasters, even for the entire village it could make it difficult for the young men to find wives.
Everyoneâs gaze towards the Fengs was almost as if they wanted to devour them, scaring Feng Bao into shrinking into a ball.
"To clear our name, we should report this to the authorities."
Anningâs final words were what truly frightened the Fengs.
Inside the Fengsâ home, who would dare go to the authorities.
They trembled at the sight of a government officer, for them, reporting to the authorities meant risking their lives.
"No, we wonât report it."
Feng Bao said, trembling.
Old Mr. Fengâs face was pale as he said: "No, we wonât report it. My daughter fell ill last night. Our family is too poor, we donât have money for medical treatment, which is why she came here."
Hearing this, the look in the eyes of the others towards him became even more contemptuous.
Anning sneered: "Your Feng family is really something, blatantly trying to blackmail our family. If not for our clear conscience, we might have been forced by your actions into ruin and death. Mr. Feng, donât you feel ashamed for doing such things? Fortunately, our family has already divorced Mrs. Feng, and from now on, we have nothing to do with the Feng family."
Old Madam also said loudly: "Did everyone hear that? These are her fatherâs own words. Mrs. Feng didnât get sick at our house. It was her own family who depreciated her, it has nothing to do with us."
The old patriarch also straightened his back: "Good thing we divorced that family-destroying woman."
And at this moment, Shuanzi dragged Doctor Gu over.
Doctor Gu took Mrs. Fengâs pulse and loudly declared, "She got frostbite overnight, probably didnât eat anything either, and on top of that, sleeping out in the wild to end up like this."
"What?"
Doctor Guâs words truly broadened everyoneâs horizons.
Xu Zhiqin stepped forward and slapped Feng Bao across the face, "Are you even human? Mrs. Feng may have wronged our Xu family, but she has been nothing but good to you. As her brother, she nearly gave you her heart, yet you let her sleep out in the wild, in last nightâs strong winds, you just..."
"I didnât, I didnât."
Feng Bao desperately defended himself, "I didnât let her sleep in the wild, I just let her sleep in the firewood shed..."
He hadnât finished speaking before Xu Zhiyong grabbed him and gave him a beating.
Anning watched coldly and after a moment, loudly addressed the crowd, "Everyone heard that, right? Make sure to bear witness for us. Mrs. Fengâs illness was caused by the Feng familyâs own doing; it has nothing to do with us."
"Thatâs right, it has nothing to do with it."
Several young wives said with a smile, "Aunt Xu is the most kind-hearted. If Mrs. Feng fell ill, how could someone send her back to her parentsâ home?"
"Exactly, Iâve been married into Xiao Guan Village for years, and Iâve always heard that Aunt Xu is a good person, and sheâs good to her daughters-in-law too."
Anning then thanked Doctor Gu, "Please prescribe some medicine. Although Mrs. Feng has done many wrongs and has been repudiated, sheâs in such a state now that she will die without medication. I will help her this one last time out of past affection, but after today, her life or death will no longer concern me."
Doctor Gu looked at Anning with admiring eyes, "You have a broad mind and are utmost kindhearted."
Many others also praised Anning for her goodness and character.
Old Madam also sincerely thought Anning was genuinely good.
Yesterday, Mrs. Feng angered Anning to the point of attempting suicide by hanging, yet today, she still could not bear to see her suffering and eagerly called for a doctor and intended to get her medicine.
Anning smiled shyly, "Itâs what I should do, I havenât really done anything."
She went over to support Old Madam, "Mother, itâs windy here, letâs go home."
"Alright, letâs go home, go home."
Old Madam was especially happy as she walked back with Anning.
The old master followed them shortly after.
After Anning had gone, the villagers began to talk.
Everyone thought that the Xu familyâs eldest daughter-in-law was truly not simple; she had taken such a troublesome matter and sorted it out in just a few moments, even getting the Fengs to admit that Mrs. Feng fell ill in the firewood shed.
Even men found it hard to manage such matters, but she, a young wife, without raising her voice, spoke softly and straightened things out one by one, compelling respect from everyone regardless.
And yet, despite this, everyone still thought highly of her.
Mainly because even knowing the Feng familyâs malicious intent, she couldnât bear to watch Mrs. Feng die of illness and still paid for her medicine. This showed her soft heart, a mark of a truly decent person.
Actually, itâs not just Xiao Guan Village, not just in ancient times, but even modern people prefer dealing with kind-hearted folks.
Although people often say that honest folks are easily deceived and are reluctant to be the honest ones,
When it really comes to forming relationships, people still prefer to associate with the honest. Even the most unscrupulous and wicked individuals actually like to be around those who are soft-hearted and sincere.
Because itâs with such people that one can truly be at ease.